Gabon national team dissolved, coach fired

Authorities in Gabon have announced the dissolution of the national senior football team and the dismissal of coach Daniel Cousin following the Panthers’ failure to qualify for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Needing a win to sail through, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang and Co. were held to a 1-1 draw by Burundi in their final qualifying game on Sunday.

Gabon sports minister Alain Claude Bilie-By-Nze said it was time to move forward and that a new coach will be named within 60 days.

“To rebuild our football we must adopt the same steps that are inspired by the model of some countries that have experienced the same difficulties as Gabon in terms of accumulation of poor results,” Bilie-By-Nze said.

Appointed head coach in September after few months as assistant, Cousin, 42, a former Gabon international, had a dream start after defeating South Sudan home and away but fell to Mali in Libreville 1-0 before the ultimate draw against Burundi which placed the Gabonese third in Group C at the end of the qualifiers.